IAN FLEMING. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY... Preface by Fergus Fleming. Forward by Michael L. Vanblaricum. Edited by Brad Frank

London: Queen Anne Press, 2012. First Edition, Deluxe Issue, One of a Limited Number for Presentation, Signed by the author Jon Gilbert, by Fergus Fleming and by Kate Grimond. Profusely illustrated throughout with full-page colour plates in suites, and black and white illustrations throughout the text. Set in Albertina type and printed in two colours. Royal Quarto, beautifully bound in fine quarter vellum over black cloth covered boards, the spine lettered in gilt, the upper cover with gilt emblematic device, red coloured endleaves, top edge gilt. [x], 692, [1] pp. A mint copy, unopened and without fault, the glassine jacket still in pristine condition. Very scarce thus. FIRST EDITION, LIMITED AND A PRESENTATION COPY OF THE CONSUMMATE WORK ON IAN FLEMING AND THE VAST TROVE OF PRINTINGS OF THE AUTHOR'S WORK. Winner of the 16th ILAB-Breslauer Prize for bibliography, this is one of the most comprehensive works in the entire field. Jon Gilbert, a fine bookseller as well as bibliographer spent four years intensive research working on this bibliography, even as that was in addition to an entire career immersed in the writings of Ian Fleming.
This is as thorough a bibliography on the subject as can be imagined. 'It is full of facts, dates, statistics and figures as well as a supporting narrative which places the writings and publications within the context of the author's own life. Here one can glean details as to how where, when and why the texts of the author come about. At the same time, it is a rounded view of a fascinating and versatile writer and his massive literary output, from the earliest fiction through the years of press assignments, post-war work at The Sunday Times, from his tentative start at novel writing, through the highs and lows of the James Bond phenomenon via some accomplished non-fiction and travelogues, to his later writing for children. The journey encompasses manuscripts, typescripts, notebooks, proof copies, serializations, censorship, published and some unpublished work, along with an in depth look at the legendary cover artwork for the Bond series.' J.G.
This is a superb copy of a superb work.